Spring board assembly

ABSTRACT

A spring board assembly including an elongated, substantially horizontal board and an underlying spring base for the board. The base includes a J-shaped rear leaf spring secured to the rear end of the board and a front leaf spring having a forward portion inclined upwardly toward the board. A midportion of the board rests loosely on the upper end of the front spring. The upper end of the front spring is permitted sliding movement longitudinally along the underside of the board when deflected by a weight on the board.

United States Patent [191 Giddings I Apr. 16, 1974 [5 I SPRING BOARD ASSEMBLY [75] Inventor: Donald W. Giddings, Lake Oswego,

Oreg.

[73] Assignee: S. R. Smith Co., Inc., Canby, Oreg.

[22] Filed: Jan. 15, 1973 21 Appl. No; 323,414

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 163,931, July 19, 1971,

abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. 272/66 [51] Int. Cl A63b 5/10 [58] Field of Search 272/66, 65

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,645,483 7/1953 Smith 272/66 3,408,061 10/1968 Meyer 272/66 X Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant ExaminerArnold W. Kramer Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Kolisch, Hartwell & Dickinson 7] 7 ABSTRACT A spring board assembly including an elongated, substantially horizontal board and an underlying spring base for the board. The base includes a J-shaped rear leaf spring secured to the rear end of the board and a front leaf spring having a forward portion inclined upwardly toward the board. A midportion of the board rests loosely on the upper end of the from spring. The upper end of the front spring is permitted sliding movement longitudinally along the underside of the board when deflected by a weight on the board.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 16 mm v Donald W Giddings INVENTOR d HH 5.

1 s'PRiuo BOARD ASSEMBLY This is a continuation of my prior-filed copending application, ser. No. 163,951, filed July 19, 1971, and now abandoned, entitled Spring Base For Diving Board.

This invention relates to a spring board assembly. The invention is illustrated as relating to a diving board for a swimming pool, but it will be appreciated that the invention may comprise a spring board for any purpose.

In the past spring boards, and especially those used for diving in pools, required the use of a very long board to obtain proper spring for a diver. With such boards the mounting for the board was substantially rigid and all of the energy to propel a diver upwardly and away from the board had to be energy which was stored in the board itself due to flexing of the board. With the advent of smaller swimming pools for homes and other uses in more confined areas it became necessary to provide shorter boards which would not extend as far out over the water and which did not require mounting as far from the edge of the pool. To this end, shorter boards on spring type mountings have been devised.

Although the spring mounts known to date have permitted the use of shorter boards and mounting closer to the edge of the pool, they have not always provided a desirable lift for a diver. Explaining further, many of such previous spring mounts produced considerable forward rocking movement of the board as its forward end is deflected downwardly by the weight of a diver initiating his dive. Thus, a diver on the board is moved a through a considerable fore and aft are on depressing More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a novel spring board assembly including an elongated board secured at its rear end to the upper end of an underlying rear spring section and resting loosely at a midportion of the board on the upper end of an underlying front spring section. The upper ends of the front and rear spring sections are unconnected to'each other permitting the upper end of the front spring section to shift relative to the board in a direction 'longitudinally of the board as such is flexed. This reduces the tendency of the board to rock forwardly as it is depressed and permits the front spring to produce a force on the board which is substantially vertical. This type construction tends to produce a faster, recovery than does a board secured to the front spring.

Another problem which has characterized most previous spring boards is the fact that each is designed to provide proper springing action for divers of only a limited weight range. If constructed to provide proper action for a heavy adult they will not be entirely suitable for a child, and vice versa.

Another object, therefore, is to provide a novel spring board assembly constructed to produce springing action suitable for divers of a wide range of weights.

More specifically, an object is to provide such a spring board assembly including an elongated board secured at its rear end to a spring and resting on another spring at the midportion of the board. The springs are so constructed that the rear spring is weaker than the front spring. This permits the rear of the board to raise a limited distance prior to the front spring being deflected when a diver depresses the tip of the board to initiate his dive. A light diver then might only deflect the rear spring, while a heavier diver would deflect both rear and front springs in his dive. With the board remaining in contact with both front and rearsprings throughout the downward deflection of the board a smooth and even transition from one force level to the next is provided.

These and other objects and advantages will become more fully apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a. spring board assembly constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the rear end of the assembly r FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 in FIG. I; and

HG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, and first specifically to FIG. 1, at 10 is indicated generally a spring board as sembly according to the invention. The assembly includes an elongated, substantially horizontal diving board 12 and a spring base, or mounting, for theboard, indicated generally at 14. As is seen in FIG. 3, board 12 comprises a plurality of edge-to-edge connected wooden boards 16 which are encased in a waterproof covering, such as plastic, 18.

Spring base 14 underlying board 12 includes a pair of similar, laterally spaced spring brackets 22, 24 adjacent opposite edges of the board. These spring brackets are supported on a concrete support surface 26 under the diving board.

Describing bracket 22 in detail, and referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it includes a rear leaf spring section 28. The rear spring section is J-shaped, having an elongated flat front leg portion 28a and a hooked portion 28b. Leg portion 28a rests on support surface 26 and portion 28b curves upwardly therefrom in an arc toward the rear end of board 12.

Spring bracket 22 also includes a front leaf spring section 32. The front spring section'includes an elongated, flat rear portion 32a which rests on leg portion 28a of the rear spring, and a forwardinclined portion 32b which is inclined upwardly and forwardly toward the midportion of board 12.

The rear spring section is constructed of a lighter material than is the front spring section. As a specific example, in a spring base for a six foot long board, the front and rear leaf spring sections may be constructed of steel having an SAE number 5l60, with the rear spring section being 2 /2 inches wide and 9/32 inches thick and the front spring section being 2% inches wide by inches thick. With this construction the rear spring section is weaker than the front spring section and is more easily deflected vertically than is the front spring section. The purpose and effect of this will be described in greater detail below.

The upper ends of the front spring sections in brackets 22, 24 are laterally spaced apart and are intercom nected by an elongated rigid plate 36 which extends between and overlies these upper ends; An elongated rubber pad 38 overlies plate 36..A bolt and nut combination, such as that indicated at 40 in FIG. 3, adjacent each end of plate 36 and pad 38, extends through the upper end of a forward spring section, plate 36 and pad 38, to secure them together. Plate 36 maintains proper spacing between the upper ends of the front spring sections and pad 38 cushions the underside of the board in operation.

Board 12 is secured adjacent its rear end to the upper ends of the rear spring sections by bolts 42 which extend through a retaining plate 44 overlying the board and through the rear end of the board and springs 28. The configurations of springs 28, 32 are such that with the rear end of the board thus secured to the rear spring sections a midportion of the board rests loosely on the upper ends of front spring sections 32 when the board is at rest.

The upper ends of the front spring sections thus, are not connected directly either to the board or to the upper ends of the rear spring sections. With this construction the upper ends of the front and rear spring sections are free to move independently of each other, and the upper ends of the front spring sections are permitted sliding movement longitudinally along the underside of the board relative to the board.

Each spring bracket is secured to support surface 26 by a series of bolts embedded in the concrete. A first bolt 48 extends through accommodating bores in both of spring sections 28, 32 adjacent the forward end of leg portion 28a of the rear spring. Securing the springs to the support surface adjacent the rear end of leg portion 32a of the front spring is a clamping member 50, which overlies portion 326 of the forward spring and leg portion 28a .of spring section 28, adjacent hooked portion 28b. Clamping member 50 has a pair of spaced bores extending therethrough which receive a pair of 52 clamp, or anchors,the horizontal portions of the rear and front spring sections against the support surface. An advantage of using a clamping member 50 d olt ass d ate ll of the flt ts is that bores do not have to be cut through the rear spring sections. If such bores were provided they would reduce the cross section of the rear spring in an area where it is subjected to great bending stresses. With this clamping arrangement, therefore, there is much less chance of structural failure occurring in the spring mounting.

Bolts 48, 52 must be securely embedded in the concrete and properly aligned and spaced to accommodate the particular spacing of the spring sections in the mount. To this end, and referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the lower ends of bolts 48 are secured, as by welding, adjacent the opposite ends of an elongated reinforcing bar 56 with the bolts properly spaced from each other and extending substantially normally outwardly from the bar. Similarly, bolts 52 are secured at their lower set of ends. as by welding, to an elongated reinforcing bar 58. Bolts 52 extend substantially normally outwardly from bar 58, and are parallel to each other. The spacing of bolts 52 on bar 58 is such as is required to provide proper spacing and clamping for the rear ends of the spring brackets.

A separate jig, indicated generally at 60 in FIGS. 1,

2 and 4, is operable to p r odij c e the p r opr ib re-to-aft spacing between bolts 48, 52 and to hold them in such position while concrete is poured around them. The jig includes four short tubes 62 which have inner diameters slightly greater than the outer diameters of bolts 48, 52, permitting them to be slipped downwardly over the bolts. Tubes 62 are secured, as by welding, to the ends of elongated bars 64, 66, 68 which serve to maintain the desired spacing between the tubes. The spacing between the tubes is such that a pair of the tubes secured to the right end of bars 64, 66 in FIG. 4 will slip over a pair of bolts 52, and a pair of tubes secured to the left ends of bars 64, 66 and separated by bar 68 at the left of FIG. 4 will slip over bolts 48.

Not only is this jig operable to align the bolts properly, but also permits compact packaging of the anchoring means for the spring base. Explaining further, the anchoring bolts and jig separate into three separate elements which may be stored flat; a first element including bolts 48 and bar 56, a second element including bar 58 and bolts 52; and a third element being jig 60.

Describing now the operation of the spring board assembly of the invention, a diver upon bouncing on the forward end of the board causes it to deflect downwardly as shown in dot-dashed outline in FIG. 1. This produces lifting of the upper ends of the rear spring sections and lowering of the upper ends of the front spring sections. The rear springs substantially anchor the rear end of the board against horizontal shifting. As the front spring sections are deflected downwardly their upper ends have a tendency to move forward relative to the board. Since they are not secured to the board or to the upper ends of the rear spring sections they may slide forwardly along the underside of the board. With the board deflected downwardly, energy is stored in the deflected spring sections. This energy then is available to propel a diver upwardly and away from the board.

The substantially vertical movement of the upper ends of springs 28 and the rear end of the board is indicated by arrow 74 in FIG. 2. The path of movement of the upper ends of springs 32 is indicated by arrow 76, which illustrates that the upper ends of springs 32, and thus the fulcrum for the board, move both downwardly and forwardly along the underside of the board when the forward end of the board is depressed.

A board assembly as described herein has a very fast recovery due to the board being unconnected to the front spring sections. With the front spring sections being slidable along the underside of the board they are able to produce a force vector acting on the board which is almost totally vertical, with little, if any, of their energy being required to move the board in a horizontal direction. Further, since the board rests only' loosely on the front spring section, as it is driven upwardly by the springs its upward momentum may cause it to rise even higher than the normally at rest position illustrated in FIG. 1, and lift somewhat from the front spring section. This added momentum also provides increased lift for the diver.

As was described previously, the rear spring sections are weaker than the front spring sections, and when a diver bounces on the forward end of the board the weaker rear springs deflect first. This is of specific ad vantage to a light weight diver, in that such a diver may obtain suitable spring action from the board merely by the initial deflection of the rear spring sections. However, when a heavier diver uses the board deflection of both the rear and the front spring sections comes into play. Thus, such a spring board assembly is well suited for divers in a wide range of weight classifications.

It should be obvious from the above description that the instant invention has many advantages and benefits over previously known spring board assemblies. Among these advantages are minimum fore-to-aft rocking, which results from having the forward spring section unconnected to and slidable along the underside of the board providing a fulcrum movable longitudinally of the board, and the fast recovery provided by such a board which produces substantially vertical lift for a diver.

Prior spring board assemblies include the type which have rear and forward springs with spaced upper portions secured to the rear and inidportion of a diving board, respectively, and lower portions secured to an underlying support surface. With both the rear and front springs secured to the board, substantial fore and aft rocking of the board occurs when a diver puts his weight on the forward end of the board. This is not only an uncomfortable sensation for a diver, but also can be dangerous, in that it does not produce the desired verticality of ligt. ln such prior assemblies the distance between the point of attachment of the rear spring to the board and the point of attachment of the base with the support surface is emphasized as being substantially equidistant with the distance between the point of attachment of the front spring and the attachment of the base to an underlying support. Such equidistant spacings provide corresponding arcs through which the rear and front springs move as the forward end of the board is depressed, thus assuring that fore and aft movement of the board will occur.

Another previous board assembly having deficiencies which are overcome by the instant invention includes a plurality of side-by-side elongated spring elements joined together to form the assembly. The spring elements have straight portions which define an elongated straight expanse, at the forward end of which is secured a foot pad. At the rear, or opposite, end of the expanse, the spring elements are bent in a reverse curve, then incline downwardly in a direction extending forwardly in the assembly to an attachment point with an underlying surface, and then incline upwardly and forwardly toward the underside of the forward end of the expanse, but terminate a distance below the expanse. In such an assembly, the only board, as such, is the small foot pad secured to the forward end of the springs, with a major portion of the foot pad spaced forwardly of the underlying spring portions. Such a board does not produce the improved spring action of the instant invention. Further, with the springs themselves in such previously designed assembly forming a substantial portion of the walking surface over which a diver moves in preparation for a dive, the same may be slippery, or otherwise not provide firm footing for a diver.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein, it should be obvious to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a spring board assembly, the combination with a support which supports the assembly of an elongated diving board providing the surface which is walked upon to prepare for a dive, said board further including a forward end which propels the diver when making the dive and an opposite rear end, means anchoring said boards rear end against substantially horizontal shifting but accommodating leveraged up and down movement of said rear end, said means comprising a curved leaf spring having an anchor portion anchored at an anchor point to said support and curving upwardly in a rearwardly extending continuous bend to an end fixedlyjoined to said rear end of the board at a location substantially directly overlying said anchor point, and

means supporting said board on the underside thereof at a region intermediate the board's forward and rear ends comprising a leaf spring having an anchored portion anchored to said support and inclining forwardly and upwardly from its said anchored portion to an end adjacent the underside of the board at the latter's intermediate region, said second-mentioned leaf spring having a fulcrum pad forming the fulcrum for the board, with said end of the second-mentioned leaf spring and fulcrum pad being unconnected to and slidable on the underside of the board to permit forward translation of said fulcrum along the board with downward movement of the boards forward end accompanied by downward flexing of said second-mentioned spring and with the board itself inhibited from horizontal shifting by said first-mentioned spring, said springs having such configurations that a midportion of the board rests on said fulcrum pad when the board is in a normally at rest position. 2. The spring board assembly of claim 1, wherein said first-mentioned spring is weaker than said secondmentioned spring, whereby less force is required to deflect the upper end of said first-me:ntioned spring vertically than is required to deflect the upper end of said second-mentioned spring.

3. In a spring board assembly, the combination with a support which supports the assembly of an elongated diving board providing the surface which is walked upon to prepare for a dive, said board further including a forward end which propels the diver when making the dive and an opposite rear end,

means anchoring said board's rear end against substantially horizontal shifting but accommodating leveraged up and down movement of said rear end, said means comprising a pair of leaf springs occupying opposing positions on opposite sides of the board, each comprising a curved leaf spring having an anchor portion anchored at an anchor point to said support and curving upwardly in a rearwardly extending continuous bend to an end fixedly joined to said rear end of the board at a location substan tially directly overlying said anchor point, and

means supporting said board on the underside thereof at a region intermediate the boards forward and rear ends comprising another pair of leaf springs occupying opposing positions on opposite sides of the board, each comprising a leaf spring having an anchored portion anchored to said support and inclining forwardly and upwardly from its said anchored portion to an upper end adjacent the underside of the board at the latter's intermediate ward end accompanied by downward flexing of said other pair of springs and with the board itself inhibited from horizontal shifting by said firstmentioned springs, said springs having such configurations that a midportion of the board rests on said fulcrum pad when the board is in a normally at rest position. 

1. In a spring board assembly, the combination with a support which supports the assembly of an elongated diving board providing the surface which is walked upon to prepare for a dive, said board further including a forward end which propels the diver when making the dive and an opposite rear end, means anchoring said board''s rear end against substantially horizontal shifting but accommodating leveraged up and down movement of said rear end, said means comprising a curved leaf spring having an anchor portion anchored at an anchor point to said support and curving upwardly in a rearwardly extending continuous bend to an end fixedly joined to said rear end of the board at a location substantially directly overlying said anchor point, and means supporting said board on the underside thereof at a region intermediate the board''s forward and rear ends comprising a leaf spring having an anchored portion anchored to said support and inclining forwardly and upwardly from its said anchored portion to an end adjacent the underside of the board at the latter''s intermediate region, said second-mentioned leaf spring having a fulcrum pad forming the fulcrum for the board, with said end of the second-mentioned leaf spring and fulcrum pad being unconnected to and slidable on the underside of the board to permit forward translation of said fulcrum along the board with downward movement of the board''s forward end accompanied by downward flexing of said second-mentioned spring and with the board itself inhibited from horizontal shifting by said first-mentioned spring, said springs having such configurations that a midportion of the board rests on said fulcrum pad when the board is in a normally at rest position.
 2. The spring board assembly of claim 1, wherein said first-mentioned spring is weaker than said second-mentioned spring, whereby less force is required to deflect the upper end of said first-mentioned spring vertically than is required to deflect the upper end of said second-mentioned spring.
 3. In a spring board assembly, the combination with a support which supports the assembly of an elongated diving board providing the surface which is walked upon to prepare for a dive, said board further including a forward end which propels the diver when making the dive and an opposite rear end, means anchoring said board''s rear end against substantially horizontal shifting but accommodating leveraged up and down movement of said rear end, said means comprising a pair of leaf springs occupying opposing positions on opposite sides of the board, each comprising a curved leaf spring having an anchor portion anchored at an anchor point to said support and curving upwardly in a rearwardly extending continuous bend to an end fixedly joined to said rear end of the board at a location substantially directly overlying said anchor point, and means supporting said board on the underside thereof at a region intermediate the board''s forward and rear ends comprising another pair of leaf springs occupying opposing positions on opposite sides of the board, each comprising a leaf spring having an anchored portion anchored to said support and inclining forwardly and upwardly from its said anchored portion to an upper end adjacent the underside of the board at the latter''s intermediate region, and an elongated fulcrum pad secured to and interconnecting the upper ends of said other pair of leaf springs underlying the board and forming the fulcrum for the board, said pad and the upper ends of said other pair of leaf springs being unconnected to and slidable on the underside of the board to permit forward translation of said fulcrum with downward movement of the board''s forward end accompanied by downward flexing of said other pair of springs and with the board itself inhibited from horizontal shifting by said first-mentioned springs, said springs having such configurations that a midportion of the board rests on said fulcrum pad when the board is in a normally at rest position. 